The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part – Five years after Emmett saved Bricksburg, a new threat has emerged. Alien Duplo monsters keep destroying the town faster than it can be rebuilt, leading to everyone becoming super broody and serious, while Emmett remains upbeat. But When WyldStyle, Batman, Unikitty, MetalBeard and Benny are all kidnapped and taken to the Systar System, it’s up to Emmett to save them. Will he be able to grow up? And will his apocalyptic dream about the great Armageddon come true before he can do so? 

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (2019) – Director: Mike Mitchell

By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59113294

Rating: U

Running Length: 106 minutes

Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks

Genre: Animated, Comedy

REVIEW: ‘THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART’

After the surprise hit that was ‘The LEGO Movie‘ a sequel was inevitable. Luckily, things are just as fun and high energy as they were first time around. Featuring a raft of returning characters as well as some new antagonists, Emmett (Pratt), WyldStyle / Lucy (Banks) and Batman (Arnett) have to deal with the scourge of the alien Duplo invaders. Their city home has been reduced to a wasteland (Apocalypseburg) and everything is NOT awesome when several of our team get kidnapped and taken back to the Systar Systerm. So follows a tale that takes in space trips, time travel, brainwashing, and dangerous musical earworms.

The plot is a little less satisfying this time around. Many of the jokes are self-referential and the central arc between Emmett and Lucy is the well-worn ‘don’t try to change people’ trope. But really when the journey is this fun any such quibbles are minor. The sheer amount of imagination on display is really like jumping into the head of a child playing with LEGO. Space ships get destroyed and re-built as rocket powered houses. A flying wrecking fist powers through the mysterious ‘stairgate’ portal. And there continues to be knowing songs that mock just how catchy they are. Ok, so the concept of a time travel paradox will likely go over the heads of most of the young audience, but as the character’s themselves say, ‘does it really matter’?

The LEGO Movie 2 takes that general theme of arguing siblings and constructs a plot around it. We already know from the first movie that the fates of Emmett and friends come from the mind of real life Finn. But now he is older and his little sister Bianca wants to play with him. Their battles manifest into the toy LEGO world, causing destruction and abduction of characters as Bianca stomps off with them to the ‘Systar system’. As a framing device you know it’s going to end up at a reconciliation ending so the wonderful surprise twist from first time around is missing. Regardless, the gag a minute approach (both verbal and visual) keep this a light-hearted indulgence in the power of endless imagination. Whether it’s the shape shifting Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi (Tiffany Haddish, singing I’m ‘unmalicous’ and ‘unsneaky’!), or the endlessly funny self-obsessed Batman, The LEGO Movie 2 essentially delivers more of the same, and that is perfectly awesome.

CONTENT: IS ‘THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART’ SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

An ‘attack’ by the alien Duplo invaders reduce Bricksburg to broken bricks with buildings collapsing everywhere. Several characters flee.

Unikitty is awoken due to another Duplo attack. She wakes up angry and morphs into a huge ‘battle cat’ look, much like a Mad Max vehicle. She roars and drives off. This may be a little frightening for small children although the moment is over quickly.

Emmett is very proud of the house he has built for him and Lucy. Unfortunately it gets accidentally destroyed and he looks back at the rubble, upset.

Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi talks to various characters looking like a horse. She then changes shape into a large octopus like thing and says in a creepy voice “heeeey guuyyyys”. She sings a song about being “not evil” and how she “totally won’t have ya executed immediately”. 

Emmett and Rex are walking down a spooky wooded path. Vines appear and yank away some of their team out of shot. What was believed to be flowers turn around creepily and have fixed expressions on them.

Rex teaches Emmett to ‘get in touch with his anger’ and encourages him to let out his frustrations in order to destroy things.

When in a seemingly perfect town, the residents begin to sing a song that ‘will get stuck in your head’. During this, the camera warps slightly to show an unsettling angle and suggest that all is not as it seems.

A talking piece of LEGO chocolate looks at a chocolate fountain and shakes its head, saying, “Life is so fleeting”. In a later hand drawn animated section, Unikitty takes a bit out him which is treated as a funny moment.

Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi dances to a song about finding someone attractive. Her moves are alluring but considering she is a collection of LEGO and Duplo pieces this isn’t too suggestive.

Dog Slave minions push a set of cogs that make a melting pot of LEGO bricks. They look unhappy with their treatment, but this scene is very short.

When talking about marriage, Batman suggests that they forgo the part where the bouquet is thrown and instead should throw a ‘batarang’ so that whoever’s chest it lodges in will be the next to marry. This is shown in a brief hand-drawn section.

In the real world, a boy punches a girl’s LEGO construction causing it to collapse. She looks at him, upset and astonished.

Two characters argue strongly when one reveals their true identity and the tone is very negative for a few minutes.

A foreseen event takes place whereby many established characters are sucked into an apparent black hole. They scream and yell (although there are also jokes taking place).

A Banana character is shown getting a tattoo.

CAN I SEE A CLIP?

VERDICT: IS ‘THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART’ FOR KIDS?

Second time around the jokes are more self-referential and loaded with meta references that will on some level go over the heads of the target young audience. However, they will still get plenty out of the silly humour that delivers throughout. There are some emotional moments and a protracted period for around 15 minutes where many characters are upset. However, due to the high level of jokes and heavy emphasis on fun play, we would recommend ‘The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part’ as suitable for children aged 5 and up.

• Violence: 1/5 (some fighting which consists of LEGO characters bashing against each other)
• Emotional Distress: 2/5 (Emmett’s nightmare is scary as established characters get sucked into a black void)
• Fear Factor: 1/5 (Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi can seem a little scary at times)
• Sexual Content: 1/5 (minor suggestive dancing from Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi)
• Bad Language: 0/5
• Dialogue: 2/5 (some threats, mostly comical. Arguments and making Emmett feel bad for not ‘growing up’)
• Other Notes: Deals with themes of maturing, playing together, personality clashes on how to play, getting bitter when feeling abandoned, time travel, marriage, and accepting people for who they are.

Words by Michael Record